Austrian Ministry: We did not file a complaint against Hungary in Brussels

“No official complaint has been filed about the construction of the weir,” the spokesperson for the Austrian Ministry of Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure said in response to Telex's inquiry.

On Wednesday, Hungarian PM Péter Magyar said on Facebook that Austria had filed a complaint against Hungary in Brussels over the weir constructed on the Danube near the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. This is what the Austrian ministry has now denied, but they added that the economic importance of the Danube is indisputable for Austria, which is why both the European Commission and the Budapest-based (non-EU) Danube Commission are in direct contact with the relevant Hungarian authorities. Representatives of the countries participating in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region have also developed a common position, which they have conveyed to the Hungarian government.

In the letter, the spokesperson also noted that ensuring that the Danube remains navigable is extremely important for Austria, since the river connects several of the country’s commercial and industrial centers to international trade. At the same time, however, they understand that maintaining water levels is important for Hungary; this is why Austria’s goal is to establish a well-coordinated approach that takes into account the interests of all parties along the Danube.

Due to record-low water levels in the Danube, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant had to be shut down almost entirely this summer because the system barely managed to draw the cooling water needed for its operation from the Danube. A complete shutdown was ultimately avoided because they were able to keep one turbine running even during the most critical period. In order to ensure an adequate supply of water, the government decided on August 12 to construct a weir in the riverbed, as it provides a quick solution for ensuring the plant’s continued operation. The plant has since resumed operation at full capacity.